THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1908. THE PRESERVATION OF SCENERY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9154, 30 July 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1908. THE PRESERVATION OF SCENERY.

The latest report of the Under-Secre-tary for Land 3 on scenery preservation shows that the Government is steadily acquiring, with the best.of objects, many places of scenic attraction throughout the Dominion, while due care has been exercised in regard to not setting aside areas covered with native forest which were likely to be effected by bush fires. As the last summer was an exceptionally dry one greater care than usual had to be taken in the respect mentioned. The report states that the preceding twelve months has not witnessed any unusual need for urgent action in the direction of acquiring and purchasing private or native lands for scenic purposes. Up *o March 31st, 1907, an area of 25,801 acres had been acquired and reserved under statutory authority, and during the twelve months ended March 31st, 1908, an

addition of 8,130 acres was made to the total, which thus reached 33,931 acres, exclusive of about 100,000 acres of Crown land similarly reserved. Prominent among; the lands thus acquired is an area of 751 acres of Native land bordering the railway line between Auckland and Rotorua, sfcme six miles distant f v om the latter place, and a portion of 157 acres of freehold land almost adjoining, the result being that a stretch of native bush through which the railway line runs is preserved intact. Another purchase was some 1,517 acres of forest hind on the banks of the Wanganui River, be'ow Pipiriki and adjoining Koroniti. This includes several areas of detached forest in the Ahuahu, Ohotu, and other native blocks recently leased for grazing purpose by the Aotea Maori Land Board; and the Government, in order j to insure t<he protection of the bush on the rivdr banks, was compelled to takfi the land under the Public Works Act, which authorises the purchase of lands for scenery preservation. A spring of mineral water near to Pipi • riki, on the banks of the Wanganui' River, was also taken under the same Act, and has now been leased to Mr Hatrick, owner of the Pipiriki Accommodation Rou3e, who has, by tho term of his lease, to keep it in order and erect a suitable drinking fountain and bath-house thereon, which the public, on payment, of a small charge, can use. This will considerably popularise the spring, which hitherto has been little known. An area of 1,290 acres around Lake Mahinapua, Wesdand, has been set apart for scenic purposes during the year, and will tend to preserve the picturesqueness of the lake by retaining its border of native forest. This lake is one of Westland's beauty spots, and well repays a visit thereto. The Waiotapu Valley has now boen additionally protected by the reservation of 336 acres of native land on which are situated some of it 3 thermal attractions, and 140 acres of Crown land nearly adjoining, which includes additional hot springs and lakes. At the present time, therefore, Waiotapu is free to visitors for nearly every manifestation of thermal activity and interest. A hundred acres of freehold land at Katikati, near Tauranga, on which are situated the locally celebrated Waiora hot springs, has also been acquired, and may now be visited by the public. Many other small areas of land' have also been acquired, and although much still remains to be done' throughout New Zealand to .preserve the most attractive and frequented beauty-spots which would otherwise be in danger of destruction, yet there is on fear that this country, which is so richly endowed with picturesque scenery will fail to retain uninjured the greater part of what visitors praise so highly.